Pest Control Red Flags During Home Showings

There’s something undeniably exciting about walking through a potential new home for the first time. Whether it's the charming hardwood floors, the spacious kitchen, or the backyard you can already picture hosting summer barbecues in, it's easy to get caught up in the possibilities. But beneath the fresh paint and staging furniture, there could be signs of unwelcome guests hiding in plain sight—and we’re not talking about nosy neighbors.

Pest activity is one of those things most people don’t want to think about when house hunting, but it can be a real issue. The presence of rodents, insects, or wildlife isn’t always obvious, especially when sellers go out of their way to tidy things up before a showing. Still, some indicators stand out if you know what to look for. Buyers who understand how to spot these red flags can avoid unexpected repair costs, infestations, and serious stress down the road. After all, it’s not just about what you can see—it’s also about what could be hidden beneath the surface.

Odd Smells And Subtle Sounds

Sometimes, the nose knows. If you’re touring a home and pick up on a musty or musky odor, it might be more than just stale air or a neglected air freshener. Rodents and insects can leave behind smells that are hard to completely mask, especially in enclosed areas like attics, crawl spaces, or basements. If something doesn’t smell quite right, don’t brush it off. That lingering scent might be a byproduct of nesting material, droppings, or even decomposing pests caught somewhere behind the walls.

Aside from strange odors, quiet homes can sometimes betray themselves through sound. A faint scuttling behind drywall, a light scratching overhead, or even soft squeaking could mean there’s something alive where it shouldn’t be. These sounds can be hard to catch during a quick walkthrough, especially if there’s music playing or people chatting. But if you get a moment of silence and something feels off, it’s worth trusting that instinct.

Even small, repeated noises coming from the same area during multiple visits could hint at an ongoing issue. Don’t hesitate to ask the seller or agent about it—although their answer may not always tell the full story, your questions might lead to further inspections that reveal more than meets the eye.

Telltale Marks And Structural Damage

While cosmetic upgrades might steal the spotlight during a showing, buyers should pay just as much attention to areas that don’t seem quite as polished. Scratches along baseboards, small holes in drywall, or gnawed wood around door frames might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but they can signal a much larger issue.

Mice and rats, for example, are notorious for chewing on just about anything—wires, insulation, even pipes. Termites and carpenter ants can cause more structural damage than most people realize. Even wildlife like squirrels or raccoons can find their way into attics and tear up insulation or roofing materials.

If you notice what looks like tiny piles of sawdust in corners, near windows, or underneath wooden fixtures, take a moment to consider what might be behind it. These could be frass—waste material left behind by wood-destroying insects. Any signs of warping wood, soft spots in flooring, or doors that don’t close quite right might not just be quirks of an older home—they might be damage left behind by pests who have been nesting or feeding there.

What makes this even trickier is how well damage can be hidden with strategic staging. Furniture placed directly against a wall or curtain drawn across a window could be covering something important. A careful buyer should feel free to move items aside—politely, of course—and get a better look.

Evidence That’s Been Cleaned Up—Or Covered Up

One of the trickiest aspects of spotting pest issues during a home showing is that the seller may have done just enough to hide the most obvious signs. But there are still clues if you look closely. For example, an overuse of caulk or sealant around the base of kitchen cabinets or window sills might not just be a DIY enthusiast's handiwork—it could be an attempt to block out pests that have been sneaking in.

Likewise, if certain areas of the home are heavily scented with air fresheners or candles, it might be a tactic to cover up an odor that doesn’t want to go away. Unfinished or partially painted sections in closets, garages, or utility rooms could mean prior pest damage that hasn’t been fully repaired.

Even traps or bait stations tucked discreetly behind appliances or in the garage can be a big giveaway. Sellers might leave them out in hopes they’ll go unnoticed, but for a prospective buyer paying close attention, they’re a direct sign that pest control has been an issue—recently enough that monitoring is still in place.

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that matters most. If you’re only allowed to view part of the attic or one section of the crawlspace is off-limits, that might be an innocent oversight—or it might not. Restricted access during a showing should be a gentle nudge to dig deeper before making any commitments.

Outdoor Clues That Point To Indoor Problems

While most homebuyers tend to focus their attention inside the house, the outdoor space can offer plenty of hints about what might be going on indoors. Overgrown shrubs or trees that hang close to the roofline can provide easy access for pests like squirrels or raccoons looking to make their way inside. Gaps around soffits, loose siding, or damaged vent screens are like open doors to critters on the move.

Look around the foundation and yard too. Rodents often dig burrows along the perimeter of homes, especially in shaded or undisturbed areas. If the backyard has patches of dirt that seem unusually disturbed, or there are small tunnels near the porch or deck, that could mean something has taken up residence nearby. From there, it’s just a short journey into the house.

Bird feeders placed too close to the structure, overflowing trash bins, or pet food left out can all create the kind of environment that attracts pests. Even a well-kept lawn doesn’t rule out pest problems if the conditions around the home invite them in. Pay close attention to things like moisture buildup near downspouts or mulch mounded too high against the foundation—both can be subtle signs of a bigger issue waiting to surface.

When you're walking through a potential new home, it's easy to focus on the positives—spacious closets, natural light, a great neighborhood. But underneath all that charm could be a hidden issue that impacts the health, comfort, and longevity of your investment. That’s where having a sharp eye and a little background knowledge can make all the difference.

At Westshore Pest Management, we understand how frustrating and costly hidden pest problems can be. That’s why we encourage prospective buyers to be vigilant during showings and reach out if something doesn’t feel quite right. Our experienced team knows what to look for and how to uncover the issues that may be lurking beneath the surface. Before you sign on the dotted line, let us help give you peace of mind. Contact Westshore Pest Management to schedule a pre-purchase inspection or to talk through any concerns about pest activity you've spotted during a walkthrough. We’re here to help make sure your next move is a confident one.